Clingy Toddler

Hello.

I remember my girls doing this with me verses me. It is because we spend more time with them meeting their needs so they are just used to us doing everything for them. I encourage you to keep dad doing things for her and she will start to realize that he is also importand and is helpful to her. Tell her daddy can do it or help you!

My son did this at 5-1/2 when we brought home our daughter. It lasted at least 6 months and can still surface. My husband would be sitting there saying "no line for Daddy" and both kids would want me. Now the fight seems to be over Daddy since they seem to get enough of me. The only thing I can recommend is consistently spending special alone time with your older daughter but also explaining to her that Daddy can and will help her when you can't and don't let her dictate what you do. If she pitches a fit, send her to her room or put her in time out. If you let her dictate the way you serve now, it will only teach her how to get what she wants instead of learning to adapt or wait her turn. That is the blessing in having more than one child.

Nancysue,

I have a 5 year old son and a 19 month old daughter. Ironically my daughter is more clingy than her brother. The best advice I have to give is try to spend some special on-on-one time with your older daughter. Whether that's having Dad take the baby out of the house, spend the time together when the baby is sleeping, or you and your daughter leave the house together. This sounds like your older girl is asking for attention in the only way she knows how.

The special time can be reading books, or playing games, or just walking around a mall or store together. Adults spell "love" L-O-V-E. Kids spell "love" T-I-M-E.

Best Wishes,
Melissa

I know exactly what you are going through. I have a just 2 yr old girl and a 10 month old boy. It is really hard to spread your attention around with a newborn and not feel like the old child is getting slighted.
Is there anyway Daddy can get one on one time with your 27 month old? What has worked for us is Daddy has made an effort to spend some one on one fun time with her which has created a greater bond between them and lessened her dependency on me. I have also been lucky enough to have a grandma to take the baby, which allows some more mommy-daughter time. Just hang in there because it does get better as the baby gets older!

My first daughter talked at 8 mos....not just a word here or there....but 3-5 words strung together in a sentence! But didn't walk til she was thirteen months. the second daughter walked at 8 months and didn't talk until she was 2 yrs old except for basic words. What we found is that the older daughter and her had a language of their own and the older one did all the talking for both of them. We had to enforce the "don't talk for your sister" rule to get her to start talking. She is now 31 and still if pretty quiet by comparison to her older "chatty" sister! Time will catch up all things. Continue talking with her in normal words, not baby talk, and she will pick it up when she is ready.

One thing that worked for me was include the oldest with the babys needs. For example get the diaper and wipes for changing, grab a blanket, etc. Is your daugter gentle with the baby? Let her wipe up spit up off the baby. Let her do little things to let her think she is HELPING. This way she is still spending time with you and she feels like a big girl because she is helped mommy. This may also free up a mintue for you to get something for her. This will also strengthen the bond between the two. I did this with all my kids and they are extremely close(They are now 14, 11, 8, and 17months).